Portable shelf



pr] 4i-9 i195@ l A. u. PETERSON PORTABLE SHELF Filed March 27, 1947 N Zo /////f Hf MM M0 u f WP@ Ff 7W O 6 H d3 1U 2 Z m @y O 7 7W N WH 5 AfTM, W 2 ,w mv MMM @Vaya/wi V//W m Zr mi? M 5 .L f ./z www12 M/ 6 w L i f1|r.|.| r|,l||||||||l|1f1l11lmwlwl||l ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1950UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 11 Claims.

The invention provides a construction of port able shelf that mayreadily and quickly be" mounted on a wall when wanted for use, and thatmay easily and at once be removed from the wall when the shelf is notneeded, the shelf being provided with supporting legs which may then befolded against the body member of the shelf,-

to reduce the structure to small compass for storage until the shelf isagain needed. The shelf may be repeatedly mounted on a wall and removedtherefrom, as many times as desired, and

without the use of special tools.

More specifically, the shelf of the invention includes a body member forsupporting desired articles, from the rear or wall edge of which a firstflange extends downwardly at substantially a right angle to facilitatemounting the shelf ono;

a wall by means of specially constructed hooks secured to the wall, saidbody member having also a second flange extending downwardly andrearwardly at an oblique angle from its front or outer edge, to whichsecond flange supporting legs 13- are pivotally connected to extend whenin opened position, downwardly and rearwardly to engage the wall attheir lower ends. The Obliquity of the second flange imparts properdirection to said legs to engage the wall as described, and whenii-i'supporting relatively heavy loads, tension members are providedbetween the lower ends of the legs and the body member of the shelf, toprevent the lower ends of the legs from slipping downwardly on the wall,which action might otherwise occur when the shelf is heavily loaded.

The body member of the shelf is preferably made of sheet material suchas metal, and the legs are preferably made of similar material, the saidtension members being preferably metal rods or wires or the equivalent,as a result of which the entire shelf structure is of simple andinexpensive construction, although entirely satisfactory for itsintended purposes, for example, for use generally in houses where theconvenience of supporting small or relatively light articles is desired,and particularly where said desired use is temporary and subject torepetition making the repeated removal and replacement of the shelfdesirable.

It is the object of the invention to produce a shelf having theconstruction, operation and ad-l Y companying drawings illustrating apreferred embodiment thereof, in which' Fig. 1 shows the shelf in planview mounted on a wall,

Fig. 2 is an end view in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows in a view similar to Fig. 2, the shelf removed from thewall and with its legs folded against its front flange,

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the front flange of the shelf with its legsfolded against said front flange, this view being taken along the line 44 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of thestructure shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 5 5 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view to an enlarged scale of a part of thestructure shown in Fig. 1, taken along the line 6 6 in Fig. l.

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shelf includes a flat body member IIlmade preferably of sheet material such as metal or the equivalent, of athickness adapted to carry a desired load Without deformation. Agrearflange l! integral with the body member l0, extends vertically incontact with a wall I2 when the shelf is in use with the body member Hlin horizontal position, as illusparts trated. A front flange I3 integralwith the body member Ill, extends downwardly and rearwardly from saidbody member, and has pivotally connected with it at I 4 and I5, theupper ends of legs I6 and Il respectively, having their lower ends inengagement with the wall I2 to support the front or outer edge of thebody member I0. The legs I6 and I1 preferably have the same inclinationto the body member l0, as has the ange i3, to facilitate folding saidlegs against said iiange as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, when the shelf isremoved from the wall. The lower ends of the legs I6 and I'I arepreferably coated with friction material I8 and i9, such as soft rubberor semi-adhesive compound, to resist downward movement of the lower endsof the legs on the wall I2, when a load is placed on the shelf.

The flaange I I is supported on the wall I2, by a special form of hook20, two of which are shown in Fig. 1. Each of the hooks 2t is preferablyconstructed of sheet metal as shown in Fig. 5, and has a folded upperend provided with spaced holes to receive a supporting nail 2 I, bywhich the nail is held at an effective supporting inclination whilebeing driven into the wall I2, and by which the nail is retained in thatinclination when the hook has been rmly mounted on the wall by saidnail. The flange II is provided with a clearance opening 22 for theupper `portion of each of said hooks The bottom of each of said openings22 is closed by a distended portion ofthe ange II forming a loop 23 forengaging the lower and upwardly opening hook-shapedportion of thecorresponding hook 20 to support the flange II and in turn the rearportion of the shelf (see Fig. 5).

The flange Il is preferably provided with a plurality of integral hooks24 formed from said flange (see Figs; 1' and 2) to support articlesunder the shelf when the same is in use.

Widely differing amounts of load may be sup.

ported by the shelf by suitably proportioning the parts thereof. Whereonly a relatively lightlo'ad is to be supported, the body member I and.the legs IE and I 'l may be of relatively thin sheet material. Where theshelf is' required-to support substantially heavier loads, said bodymember and legs may be of sheet material havingsubstantial inherentstiffness and they may be taken of suflicient thickness toresistdeformation for the substantial downward thrusts on thellower ends ofthelegs; which may'then be suicient to overcome the friction of the lower'ends of theflegs on the wall. -In some Tcases the-loadv to be supvported mayv be so heavy "as fto require additional support for the lowerends'of the legs-to avoid the necessity of making 'the-body member; I0and legsJIS yand llunduly thick and heavy.

,To provide for: casesof hea-vy'floading: of the shelf, tensionmembers'25. and 26; are shown, which at their lowerendsarticulate withthe lower end portions of the -legs-|6 and-I'L-andat their upper endsare slidably supported by voffeset'rods 2l. and:28 rigidly,secu1'ed Vitothelower surface of the body memberlll, forexampla-by welding, topermitthe folding of thelegsas described, against the flange-J3.Thetension members v25 .and .26 under. heavy loadsl on.-.the shelf,`support the lower endsy of ,the legs I6 ,and Il. against the downwardthrusts 4exerted on them'inexcessof the friction-between the legs`andfthe Wall Yl2, andare illustrative only, since any equivalent de-.vicesmay be employed/.that will similarly support the legs andpemnitthesameto be -folded .against the flange. l 3.. ,.Saidmembers`beingsubjected only to tension, theymayconsist of slender steelrods .orequivalent vtension members, and they,l may be dispensed. with where theshelf is. to be. used.Y to support light loads-only.

To Yfacilitate lmounting the shelf.,ony a wall, .gauge marks .29.are-made on.its V.upper surface .(see Fig. l), and the shelfwith. itsbody member in horizontal position,isplacediagainst the 4wall alittlebelow the,height.=desired for .the shelf, `andmarks-:fire madeon thewall at. the wall ends of thegaugemarksl; then .theshelf is removed fromthe wall,and .thenails 2| extending 4through .the hooks. 20.are..driv,en into. the Wall ,at the .marks somade thereongand .attheinciinationre- .quired by the.. hooks...t0 rmly..seat..,them. flatagainst the walL in. proper., supporting position, which .inclinationsis .preferably substantially 45 degrees with the .wall surface land..effectively en- `gages the nails .with the wall for load supportingvpurposes' and in, a. manner -preventingthe fnails ,from accidentallybecomingloose and-.dropping .fr omthe .wallrallthat is then required `tomount =.the,shelf, is to engagethe loops 23-of the-flangerl l inthehocks .20 and to extend the-.legs\l6zand l1 .to their .open orlower..position. Thewhookslll mayreinain permanently on the wall, andthe re- "moval` of the ,shelfY requires only the .folding .of the legs.from .their `'open position and- ,the lifting ..ofthe loops p23 fromengagement with;` there hooks -2U. .Thefclding of thelegs againstthelfifngecl! reduces the bulk of the shelf-i to a minimumfor storageuntil the shelf .is again needed for use, and it also facilitatescompact. packaging.v ,for .sale purposes.

" The Asimple describ'edeconstructionofgthe;shelf makes it inexpensiveto manufacture, without in any way detracting from its convenience inmounting on a wall and removal therefrom, and without in any waydecreasing its effectiveness in It will be understood that the shelfconstructiondescribed is illustrative of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and that the parts 'of the'shelf shown, for example, thesupporting hooksfthe folding legs and the tension members, may bereplaced by equivalent structures having similar modes of operation,without departing from the scope of the invention. I do not thereforelimit myself in carrying out the invention to the'particularstructureshown and describedpas Iv may employ equivalentsthereof without depart-.front flange extending downwardly andA rearwardly atan loblique anglefrom the front edge ingfrom' thescope'of the appended claims.

f What I claim is: 1. lIn apcrtable-shelf, thefcombination--on a. bodymember having an integral rear flange for engagement with a wall andhaving an integral 'engagement' with a'walland having an integral frontflange extending downwardly vand rearwardly at an `oblique angle fromthe front edge of saidbody member, spaced legs pivotally connested attheir upper ends with said fronty flange and when open-extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement'at theirlowerfends with a wall, and separable means for securing saidrear flangeto ay wall; said legs being` movable to a folded positionadjacent saidfront flange forstorage purposes, said=legs at their lower ends carryingfriction material for engagingisaid wall'and'tending toavoid slipping of-said lower leg-ends on said wall.

3.In aportable shelf, the combination'ol a body member .having anintegral rear' flange for engagement kwith a wall'and having an integralof lsaid-body member, spaced legs pivotally connected-at their upperends'with said front flange and when open extending downwardly andrearwardly fromsaid front flange for engagement'at their lower ends witha wall, andfseparable means Vfor securing said rear'flange to a wall,said4 legs fbeing movable to a folded position adjacent said 60 `theirlower'ends vhaving coatings of semi-adhefrontr flangeforstoragepurposes, said legsyat sive material-for engaging said wall.

4.1m avportable shelf, .the combination of. a body member having anintegral rear flange for engagementrwith a walland having an'integi'alfront flange: extending downwardly and'rrearwardly 1 at .f anoblique:angle vfrom the :f ront edge of said body member, spacedlegsjpivotallyconnected `at their upper-ends with said front flange andwhen -open extending downwardly `and'rearwardly from said front angeforengagementat their-lower ends `with a wall, and separaolemeans forsecuring said frearflangeto a wall, saidlegs -beingmovableto afolded-position adjacent-said front flange for .storage-ipurposes,saidlegac-.at

their lower ends having coatings of soft rubber compound for engagingsaid wall.

5. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having anintegral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integralfront flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique anglefrom the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connectedat their upper ends with said front flange and when open extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at theirlower ends with a wall, and separable means for securing said rearflange to a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacentsaid front flange for storage purposes, said supporting means includingup-wardly opening hooks for connection with said wall, said rear flangehaving clearance openings below the level of said body member forreceiving said hooks.

6. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having anintegral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integralfront flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique anglefrom the front edge of Said body member, spaced legs pivotally connectedat their upper ends with said front ilange and when open extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at theirlower ends with a wall, and separable means for securing said rearflange to a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacentsaid front fla-nge for storage purposes, said supporting means includingupwardly opening hooks for connection with said wall, said rear flangehaving clearance openings below the level of said body member forreceiving said hooks, the portions of said rear flange engaging saidhooks being oil-set away from the wall to clear the body portions ofsaid hooks.

7. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having anintegral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integralfront flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique anglefrom the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connectedat their upper ends with said front flange and when open extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at theirlower ends with a wall, separable means for securing said rear flange toa wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said frontflange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends ofsaid legs from said body member for the open position of said legs.

8. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having anintegral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integralfront flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique anglefrom the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connectedat their upper ends with said front flange and when open extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at theirlower ends with a wall, separable means for securing said rear flange toa wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent said frontflange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lower ends ofsaid legs from said body member for the open position of said legs, saidmeans including tension members pivotally connected at their lower endswith the lower ends of said legs and slidably connected at their upperends with said body member.

9. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having anintegral rear flange for engagement with a wall and having an integralfront flange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique anglefrom the front edge of said body member, spaced legs pivotally connectedat their upper ends with said front flange and when open extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from said front flange for engagement at theirlower ends with a wall, separable means for securing said rear flange toa wall,l said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent saidfront flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lowerends of said legs from said body member for the open position of saidlegs, said means including tension rods articulating at their lower endswith the lower ends of said legs, and slide members secured to said bodymember and extending towards said leg pivots and having slidingengagement with the upper ends of said rods to support the same.

l0. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having a frontflange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from thefront edge of said body member, means for supporting the rear portion ofsaid body member from a wall, spaced legs pivotally connected at theirupper ends with said front ilange and when open extending downwardly andrearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower endswith a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent saidfront flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lowerends of said legs from said body member for the open position of saidlegs, said means including tension members pivotally connected at theirlower ends with the lower ends of said legs and slidably connected attheir upper ends with said body member.

1l. In a portable shelf, the combination of a body member having a frontflange extending downwardly and rearwardly at an oblique angle from thefront edge of said body member, means for supporting the rear portion ofsaid body member from a wall, spaced legs pivotally connected at theirupper ends with said front flange and when open extending downwardly andrearwardly from said front flange for engagement at their lower endswith a wall, said legs being movable to a folded position adjacent saidfront flange for storage purposes, and means for supporting the lowerends of said legs from said body member for the open position of saidlegs, said means including tension rods articulating at their lower endswith the lower ends of said legs, and slide members secured to said bodymember and extending towards said leg pivots and having slidingengagement with the upper ends of said rods to support the same.

ANTON U. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

